May.17.01: Light For The Day - "Halfway Christian" -- James 1:22  "Do not merely listen to the Word of God,  and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says." ----------------------- In early American colonies founded by religious groups,  the vote was often reserved for believers. But as new  generations came along, all too often grandsons and  granddaughters were not converted. How could a way  be found for these folks to vote—and thus keep the  wealth and power in the hands of established families? The answer was the “halfway covenant.” God,  the theologians proposed, was committed to save  the children of believers someday. So they were  halfway in the church anyway. So if your parents  were Christians in good standing, you could vote,  even if you didn’t believe in Jesus yourself. People always seem to be looking for a “halfway”  religion. Christians today too look for a halfway kind  of Christianity. My parents were good Christians.  Doesn’t that count?  I’ve belonged to my church, the “true church,”  since I was a child. Doesn’t that count?  I tithe. How about counting that? Well, having Christian parents and being in church  all our lives is certainly an advantage. But it doesn’t  take us even halfway to salvation. Paul tells us why. Jews and Gentiles alike are all in the  grip of sin (Roman 3:9). As the Scripture says,  “There is no one righteous, not even one” (Rom.3:10).  The only thing that counts, the only thing that can save us,  is breaking the grip of sin. And neither Mom and Dad,  our racial heritage, or our church membership can do that. How glad we can be that Jesus Christ takes us all the way,  not just halfway, to God. By Jesus’ death and resurrection,  and through faith in Him, we become Chrstians indeed. All the way Christians. The only way. -- Lawrence O. Richards ----------------- -- John 3:16-17 (NLT) "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son,  so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but  have eternal life. 17 God did not send his Son into the world to  condemn it, but to save it." -- Psalms 51:10-13 (NRSV) "Create in me a clean heart, O God,  and put a new and right spirit within me. 11 Do not cast me away from Your presence,  and do not take Your holy spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation,  and sustain in me a willing spirit. 13 Then I will teach transgressors Your ways,  and sinners will return to You."